The Ruins of Copán

The ruins of Copán, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in western Honduras, are among the most important and artistically dazzling of all Maya cities, often called the Athens of the Maya world for the unrivalled quality of their sculpture. While not the largest site, Copán is celebrated for its intricately carved stone stelae and altars depicting its rulers, its ornate temples and ball court, and above all the magnificent Hieroglyphic Stairway, a monumental flight of some 63 steps carved with the longest known Maya hieroglyphic text, chronicling the city's dynasty.

History

The valley was farmed long before the first stone buildings went up around the 9th century BC. In AD 426 the city was refounded by K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo', whose new dynasty had its roots at Tikal, and Copán grew into a regional power of the southern Maya world, controlling the route to the jade and obsidian of the upper Motagua valley. In 738 its long-ruling king Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil was captured and beheaded by the ruler of Quirigua, once Copán's vassal, yet within a few decades the city was building monuments again. Its population fell from perhaps more than 20,000 to under 5,000 during the 8th and 9th centuries, and the ceremonial centre was abandoned in the early 10th; when the Spanish arrived in the 16th century only a few farming hamlets were left in the valley (Wikipedia, Copán).

Highlights

• The Hieroglyphic Stairway - the longest Maya text carved in stone.
• The carved stelae - the intricate portrait sculptures of the kings.
• The acropolis and ball court - the temples and ceremonial heart.
• The sculpture museum - the finest carvings, indoors and restored.

When to go

November to April, the dry season, for comfortable exploration and firm paths; go early in the morning to enjoy the site in cooler air with the resident scarlet macaws and before the day's heat and any tour groups. The nearby town of Copan Ruinas makes a charming base.

What to expect

Copan is smaller in scale than the towering pyramids of Tikal or Chichen Itza, so those expecting sheer size may be surprised; its genius lies instead in the incomparable detail and artistry of its carvings, which reward a guide to interpret. It is in the far west, a journey from the coast. For lovers of Maya art and history, though, Copan is a masterpiece and among Central America's finest ruins.

Nearby

The town of Copan Ruinas, its bird park and hot springs are close by.